Chrysanthemum plant -- Coral Moneymaker cultivar

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Coral Moneymaker is provided. The new cultivar was the result of a naturally occurring mutation of unknown causation and was discovered among plants of the Moneymaker cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,341). The blossoms of the new cultivar exhibit an attractive coral somewhat salmon-orange coloration which can be readily distinguished from the light pink to pinkish-white blossom coloration of the parent cultivar. The new cultivar is particularly suited for use as in the production of a cut anemone spray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Dendranthema morifolium Ramat., and hereinafter is referred to by the cultivar name Coral Moneymaker.

The new cultivar is a mutation of unknown causation which was discovered and carefully preserved during October, 1987 during the course of plant selection work which was conducted by me. The new cultivar was discovered among plants of Moneymaker cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,341) being grown under my direct supervision at De Lier, The Netherlands, which formed blossoms having the characteristic light pink to pinkish-white coloration.

It was observed that a single plant consistently formed blossoms having a distinctive coral coloration. Had I not discovered, carefully studied, and preserved this new cultivar it would have been lost to mankind. This new cultivar is particularly well suited for growing in the production of an attractive cut anemone spray.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings, as performed at De Lier, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar as herein disclosed are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual propagation.

Coral Moneymaker has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light, day length, contact with pesticides and/or subjection to growth retardant treatments. The overall combination of characteristics is capable of well distinguishing the new Coral Moneymaker cultivar from all other known Chrysanthemum cultivars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, a typical specimen of the overall plant of the new cultivar wherein the distinctive blossom coloration is apparent. The plant was grown in a greenhouse at De Lier, The Netherlands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described hereafter is the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. The color values were determined at 11:00 to 12:00 a.m. under natural daylight conditions on May 2, 1990 at De Lier, The Netherlands.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema morifolium Ramat., cv. Coral Moneymaker.

Commercial.--Cut anemone spray.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Anemone.

Diameter across face.--Approximately 55 mm. on average.

Diameter across disc.--Approximately 32 mm. on average.

B. Corolla of ray and disc florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of one meter).--Coral and somewhat salmon-orange.

Color (rays).--Red Group 37D.

Color (disc).--Green to coral pink, Greyed-Green Group 193A to Red Group 37A.

Number of ray florets.--Approximately 24 on average.

Number of disc florets.--Approximately 130 to 140 on average.

The blossom coloration may vary somewhat depending upon the growing season, and the growing conditions.

C. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present only in disc florets; numerous.

Gynoecium.--Present in both ray and disc florets; numerous.

Fragrance.--Normal.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Approximately 90 cm. on average.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--Green Group 137A.

Color (under surface).--Green Group 137B.

Shape.--Deeply serrated.

Leaf size.--Approximately 150×90 mm. on average.

Branching laterals.--Approximately 16 in number on average.

The plants of the new Coral Moneymaker cultivar readily can be distinguished from the parent Moneymaker cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,341) as well as its sister cultivars, California Moneymaker (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,851) and Pink Moneymaker (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,868), both with respect to blossom coloration and other characteristics. The following data was obtained during November 1991 by a comparison of plants of the Moneymaker, Pink Moneymaker and Coral Moneymaker cultivars growing in a nursery at De Lier, The Netherlands.

    ______________________________________                                                            PINK       CORAL                                                      MONEY-   MONEY-     MONEY-                                                     MAKER    MAKER      MAKER                                                      Cultivar Cultivar   Cultivar                                         ______________________________________                                         Ray Floret  Red Group  Red Group  Red Group                                    Coloration  36D        36B to     37D                                                                 Red-Purple                                                                     Group 65D                                               Disc Floret Orange     Yellow-    Greyed-                                      Coloration  Group 27B  Green Group                                                                               Green Group                                              to Red Group                                                                              145B to Red                                                                               193A to Red                                              36D        Group 36B  Group 37A                                    Number of Ray                                                                              27         33         24                                           Florets                                                                        (on average)                                                                   Number of Disc                                                                             150-160    140-150    130-140                                      Florets                                                                        (on average)                                                                   Fragrance   normal     normal     normal                                       Flower Diameter                                                                            50 mm.     45 mm.     55 mm.                                       Disc Diameter                                                                              28 mm.     not        32 mm.                                                              determined                                              Number of Laterals                                                                         13         17         16                                           (average)                                                                      Typical Leaf Size                                                                          110 × 80                                                                            100 × 95                                                                            105 × 90                                           mm.        mm.        mm.                                          Foliage Coloration                                                                         Green Group                                                                               Green Group                                                                               Yellow-                                                  137A       137A       Green Group                                                                    147A                                         ______________________________________                                    

The California Moneymaker cultivar can be similarly distinguished in view of its rose-purple blossom coloration as illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,851. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Coral Moneymaker, substantially as herein shown and described, which exhibits coral somewhat salmon-orange blossoms. 